Dinner for Two, Tag: George

May 2nd
7pm


Katrina was extremely nervous as she made the finishing touches on dinner. She had sent her soon to be husband a quick email that simply stated that she wanted to make him dinner and meet before they got married. She was happy that he was so receptive of that. She fixed the alignment of the forks for the fiftieth time before the stove started buzzing and her dinner was finished. She pulled the lasagna out of the oven and placed it on the stove.

She ran off a list in her head. Salad, check. Table set, check. Prepared to meet fiance, not so much of a check there. She was just about to adjust the setting on the table again when she heard the knock on her door. Damn it. She wasn't ready for this. She was still reeling from seeing Abram again and now this. She was going to make a damn mess of the whole thing. He would probably hate her. She took a deep breath and went to answer the door.

"Hello. George then yes? Come in please." she opened the door to make room for him to enter. There were things she noticed right away. She was glad she wore flats because they were the same height. He seemed to be one of those quiet men. But she could be wrong on that. "Are you thirsty? I have wine, tea, water.." she wasn't sure what he was in the mood for, she was going to have a glass of wine with her meal that was for sure. She would need the boost.

She didn't really know what else to say so she moved to the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable. I made lasagna, I hope you aren't a vegetarian because it has meat in it. Dinner will be ready in just a moment." she called to him as she pulled the salad from the fridge and placed it on the table. Next the lasagna and finally her glass of wine. "Ready when you are." she smiled brightly. She felt like she was trying to pretend to be someone she wasn't. She would disappoint him soon. She knew it.

Today was the day. Today was the day that George was going to meet his match in person for the very first time. He hadn't had to do anything about initiating contact with her, either, as she had sent the first email. George didn't mind that she had done so, though. He actually preferred to not make first contact, if he could help it, because his nerves got in the way and he felt like he never knew quite what to say--and worried that he would say something wrong, or that it would come out sounding wrong or be taken in the opposite manner from how he intended--and therefore became flustered or tongue-tied. Not all the time, mind you, but it happened more often than not in particular when he was speaking to members of the female persuasion.

However, it was easy for George to receive an email and send a quick response back to Katrina, telling her that he would be delighted to meet at her place for dinner. It was even easier for him to reply to an email than it was for him to talk to someone on the phone, because he wasn't good at remembering to call people in the first place, let alone remembering to call them back. With email, his computer would 'ding' and alert him to any incoming emails; and if he weren't in the middle of something else, he could quickly and easily respond to the email.

As soon as he was off work, George went home to shower and change into what he was going to wear to dinner at Katrina's. He was even bringing a small gift for her, something where he hoped she would appreciate the sentiment.

Upon reaching her flat, George stood outside her front door a moment longer than he normally would, clutching the gift for her in one hand, breathing deeply to steel his nerves. After one last deep inhale and exhale, George reached out and rapped smartly on her door. A moment later, he was greeted by Katrina, literally standing eye-to-eye with his fiancée. Quickly deducing that they were the same height, George was glad that she hadn't worn heels. Of course, he though a woman looked sexy in heels, but then she was almost always taller than he was. At least, tonight, they would literally be on an even footing for their very first meeting and dinner together.

"Yes," he replied with a nod when she checked to make sure that it was him, before he quickly added, "thank you," and sent a small smile in her direction as he crossed the threshold and stepped inside her apartment. At her next question on if he were thirsty and would like something to drink, he nodded again and responded, "Wine, please."

George followed Katrina toward the kitchen, but waited by the dining table while she moved into the kitchen to get the last of their remaining items for dinner and came into the dining room to set them down on the table. Once everything was settled, George held out his gift that he had brought for her: an artificial red rose in a slender glass vase with a red ribbon tied around the neck of the vase. "You told me you were allergic, so I got you an artificial one," he told her with a small, lop-sided smile as he handed it over to her.

Katrina put down her glass to pour one for George. He wasn't really what she was expecting but it had been a long time since she had really met anyone. Her expectations were of Abram and he wasn't George. It was different to know someone new. As she walked out of the kitchen to give him his wine she had to smile at his gesture. She didn't remember anyone being that thoughtful, not that she hadn't been given gifts but that he would buy her a fake flower so that she had a flower at all was sweet. "Thank you." she set his glass on the dining table and took the flower. "You didn't have to do that." she smiled again.

She set it down in the middle of the table and looked back at him. "So are you hungry?" she asked as she started to slice the Lasagna. "I don't get to cook very often, busy schedule but I hope you like Italian." she placed a slice on a plate.

She didn't know how this was going to go or how they were really going to get along but she was going to give him the best chance that she could. Knowing that Abram was getting married made it a little easier for her to try and not think about him. She licked her lips and looked down for the moment. "I find it interesting that there is yet another brit in this small american town." she knew that this was petty small talk but she didn't know how to do this right. She didn't want to make things complicated when they didn't need to be.

"So...um..why the vow?" she took a bite of her food. She hoped that he wouldn't take her lack of conversation badly. If she could get past this small awkward phase of the evening she was sure that they would get along quite well. Both brits and all it made it easier in some way. At least to her it did. She took a long gulp of wine and sat back for a moment. This was going to be a long night she just had that feeling.

George smiled as he handed over the flower and Katrina accepted it. "I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to give you something in return for making us dinner, and I always think that flowers, even artificial ones, are pretty and brighten up a room," he responded with a nod, hoping that his comment didn't sound too cheesy or turn her off from him. He wanted to be honest with her, as well as impress her and make her interested in him, but not overdo any of his responses or emotions to keep from scaring her off or making her think he was weird.

He nodded again when she asked him about lasagna and Italian food. Briefly, George wondered why her comment and question sounded so familiar when he realized that she had asked him when he had first arrived, but he had been so wrapped up in making sure she got the flower in the vase from him that he hadn't initially answered her question. Realizing that made George slightly embarrassed, but he knew that there was no time to dwell on what he hadn't said yet and just go ahead and answer her now. "Lasagna is fine, thank you, as is Italian food in general. I'm not really a picky eater," he replied with a small smirk.

George couldn't help but chuckle at Katrina's next comment, because he had been thinking something similar himself. "I guess the middle-of-nowhere Midwest is where we move when we want to get away from home," he replied with a cock of his head and a shrug of his shoulders, the shoulder shrug indicating that he didn't know why she had moved out here to Evergreen, but that he had moved out here for that reason.

He then pointed at his piece of lasagna with his fork and commented, "This is very tasty, by the way. You're a good cook," giving her a small, genuine, content smile. Next, George took a sip of his wine as he contemplated her next question. Of course she'd ask why he was using The Vow. Why wouldn't she? And, of course, he would want to know why she had signed up for The Vow as well.

Setting his wine glass down in its place, he looked across the table at Katrina and responded, "Well, I wanted to get away from home, to move on for a new adventure," he started, omitting the details of the fatal car crash that had taken his parents' lives--after all, there was no need to burden her with too many details when he could give her more information about it later. After a brief pause, he continued, "I had heard about The Vow, and I was ready to settle down and start a family of my own, so I moved her to Evergreen and signed up with The Vow."

George paused again and then tilted his head toward Katrina as he added, "I guess I should ask you the same question . . . and ask what you do for a living." Taking another quick sip of his wine, he admitted, "I don't think I'm the best when it comes to introductory meetings because I never know what to ask," sounding rather sheepish by the time he got to the end of his statement but keeping himself honest and also indicating with his words that if Katrina had something that she really wanted to ask him, she could go ahead and just ask him, or do most of the talking if she wished.

Katrina didn’t really know what to think of her future husband. She felt like he was a little too reserved, or stuffy. She pictured the typical tweed jacket britt sitting across from her and that wasn’t really the kind of guy that got her going. But she also didn’t really know him yet and to judge him now wouldn’t be fair. She smiled and nodded. It did seem like the Midwest was where they all seem to migrate to. She didn’t really picture this as her ultimate home and she missed London sometimes but it was quiet here and that she appreciated. She took another bite of food and sip of wine.

“Thank you, I don’t get to do it often so it’s nice to cook when I can. I’m glad you like it. I was worried, last thing I needed was some vegetarian on my hands.” She laughed a little. She would probably have kicked him out if he didn’t eat meat. Meat was good for you, not matter what those fucking vegans or vegetarians thought, not eating the protein was actually not that healthy. Though nowadays vitamins and crap made it easier. Whatever, she was a meat eater and her spouse had to be too. That’s the point.

His response wasn’t anything she wasn’t expecting, that was why most people came to this town. She didn’t really know how to respond, she could be honest that she was trying to move on from a divorce that happened five years ago but letting him know she was still in love with her ex really wasn’t her idea of a good start in their relationship. Besides that she didn’t really know how to say it without it coming off horrible and she wasn’t the type to hurt someone like that, which she was sure would hurt George even just a little. Who wanted to know that? She wouldn’t want to know that but she didn’t want to keep thinking about Abram when she needed to focus on George.

“Well, I just decided that being single wasn’t really what I wanted. I was married before and we split so I’ve been on my own for five or so years now. I figured it was time to find someone new but I don’t really like dating. I mean, I don’t like having to deal with the drama of it. I had lived here a year ago but didn’t sign up and after awhile seeing all these people get married well, it’s gets to you.” She laughed. “Anyway, so yeah, I decided to come back and give it another go, but I am glad I did too because my brother found me and moved here as well. You’ll probably see him at the wedding.” She smiled.

“I’m a doctor, I work in the ER at the hospital here.” She nodded, she didn’t like saying it like she was bragging but somehow that’s how it always came off. “I think you are doing fine. At least you are talking, if you didn’t talk then we’d probably have some problems.” She felt a little less nervous in meeting him but frankly she didn’t feel anything between them. He didn’t really give her any sparks but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She’d make it through this and if anything she’d learn something about herself.

George would be lying if he said that he wasn't apprehensive or nervous about this dinner with Katrina. It wasn't that he was nervous about meeting her or about having dinner at her place, but it was more related to the expectations that he was putting on himself to not 'mess up anything'. The Vow had matched them together, but what would happen if they didn't hit it off? What if they didn't get along or didn't like each other? What if she thought he was dull or boring? Would she leave him standing at the altar?

Shaking the 'what ifs' from his mind, George turned his attention off their future and back onto the present. After all, the present was what mattered for them, anyway. They'd have dinner, get to know each other, and get married. Barring any unforeseen, unwarranted, or unusual consequences, that is. George, at least, planned to go through with the marriage and go to the chapel at whatever time that Katrina wanted. To him, weddings were more of a woman's day, so he would let his future wife make the decision on what day and time they got married. And, he wasn't saying that Katrina wouldn't hold up her end of the bargain or that she didn't want to get married to him, but George saw it as he had signed a contract with The Vow, so he would follow through with his commitment for what he had agreed to do.

George nodded and smiled at Katrina's thanks to his compliment on her food. "I know how that is," he started but then a teasing gleam came into his eyes as he looked across the table at Kat and joked, "What do you have against vegetarians?" hoping that she heard he was joking and not get too defensive about it like some females were wont to do. "Do you tell your patients that they need to eat meat?" he asked, the joking smirk still on his face as he cocked his head to the other side.

Then, he focused onto what his match was saying next, sipping his wine and enjoying his lasagna as he listened to her talk. He nodded again. "I understand not wanting to deal with the drama of dating. I like how The Vow helps to find the match who would be most compatible with its patron." With a shake of his head, he quickly added, "I'm not a big dater, either." Part of him wanted to ask her why she and her ex-husband hadn't worked, but the other part of him didn't think it was appropriate first-date/getting-to-know-you conversation material. Instead, he figured that if she wanted to tell him, then she would, on her own time. Instead, he smiled at her comment about her brother and responded with genuine interest and sincerity, "I bet that was an interesting surprise for you. I would like to meet him."

His interest was piqued again when Katrina mentioned being a doctor. Was that why The Vow had matched them, because of their similar--albeit, on opposite sides of life and death--careers in the medical field? "I'm a medical examiner," he replied softly, not going into much detail about it from the practice of not normally bringing up the topic at dinner with friends or acquaintances--even though she was a doctor and had probably seen similar things--as it wasn't usually an appropriate conversation-starter at a dinner. Instead, he decided to reply to her next comment. Nodding, his smile grew slightly more as he silently agreed to her statement. "You're right - at least I'm talking. I don't have selective mutism, so you don't have to worry about that," he joked, "except that I do know when to be quiet, like when it's best to hold my tongue," he added with a wink.

Katrina always felt like she had a decent sense of humor and could tell fairly well when someone was making a joke. However at first she thought he was seriously asking what she had against vegetarians and was about to launch into a severe diatribe about why it’s so unhealthy until she realized just what he was doing. She laughed a little, even though she didn’t really get the joke or why he thought it was that funny. “Good one..” she nodded and took another bite. Obviously he wasn’t really looking for an answer to those questions so what was the point of responding. She would just move on. She felt like this was too weird. That they were too different but she wasn’t about to let one meeting throw her off of getting married because plenty of people fall in love after time.

As he continued she perked up at the talk of her brother. What a wonderful surprise indeed. “Oh it was smashing really. I had always wondered about him but never thought he’d try and contact me and I certainly didn’t know where he was exactly. It was nice to finally meet him. He’s just wonderful. A giant though, I hope he won’t frighten you. He’s like….he’s like Gandulf if you were Frodo. At least to me anyway.” She tried to throw some of her kind of humor at him and see if maybe they could laugh a little together.

His job wasn’t something she really respected but he probably enjoyed it enough to do it and she wasn’t the type to knock him. “Oh wow, look at that. Interesting pair we make then..” she smiled as she finished off her wine. She had mixed feelings about George but there was one thing she knew about him. He was nice. Maybe a little stuffy and boring upon first meeting but he was nice and he seemed like the kind of man that wouldn’t cheat on her. That would be faithful and that was a far cry from her ex. Even though she didn’t blame him for it, he still did it.

She felt like she was missing the joke so she just laughed anyway, he winked and to her that meant that he was trying to be funny. At least he tried right? It didn’t matter that she really didn’t find him funny so far but it was only one night and soon they’d be married anyway, she’d have plenty of time to find out how annoying his un-funniness would be to her. "That will keep you out of trouble a lot then."

George could tell that Katrina didn't get his joke. Or, she at least didn't feel like answer his rhetorical questions, which was fine with him, as they were rhetorical questions. He didn't mind that Katrina didn't show more enthusiasm or amusement at his teasing; but it did make George wonder if he weren't that funny or if he weren't getting his point across. Well, he knew that he wasn't about to be stand-up comedian, but he thought that Katrina would have gotten it a little easier. Yet, he didn't let himself worry about it too much as he knew that they would have more time to get to know each other when they were married; and the longer they were together and the more they got to know each other, the easier it would be for them to pick up on each other's nuances.

It was then that Katrina began talking about her brother once more, and George could see her face light up when she told him about Leo. He couldn't help but smile in response as Katrina spoke happily of meeting her brother. "That's wonderful," George replied with a nod before he shook his head and chuckled. "No, he won't scare me. I'm used to people being taller than I am. I got the height from my mother and her mother," he said with a light laugh in his voice.

George smiled and nodded again. He couldn't tell whether Katrina were being factitious or not, but he wouldn't hold it against her, either way. It was a little awkward as their first dinner together. It was almost like a first date, but that they were going to get married in the end. Instead of worrying about it, he nodded and "Hmm'd" in response before he replied to the next thing she said. "Yes, I hope so," he chuckled and quickly fell silent again, not really wanting to drag out this part of the conversation, particularly since it seemed to be the most awkward.

Instead, he continued to eat his lasagna and drink his wine, taking more wine when Katrina did. The two of them continued to talk through dinner, getting to know each other as much as anyone possibly could before they were to be married later on that week. When it was time for him to go, George bid Katrina farewell and promised to meet her at the chapel in two days' time and left her apartment feeling at least a bit better about the whole 'getting married to a stranger' thing.